Page 48 of Worthy Now
Tessa
“Where the hell are we going, Megan?” I ask, not for the first time, as I sit in the passenger seat of my best friend’s car, who has all but kidnapped me from Jake’s house in order to take me on this secret mission.
I haven’t seen my boyfriend since he lost his mind over my job offer yesterday, and chose to stay at his place overnight so I could welcome him home and make sure things are okay between us. As much as I like surprises, this little excursion really couldn’t have come at a worse time. That he didn’t immediately rush back following his work meeting, choosing to stay in Austin instead, bothered me more than I’d like to admit, and I’ve been worried about where his head is at ever since. I was also really hoping to be the first person to congratulate him on pulling this major contract.I saw how nervous he was in the days leading up to that meeting. How much pressure he’s put himself under because he felt his crew was counting on him to reel in this golden opportunity. He hadn’t wanted to let anyone down. It’s obvious he cares about his employees, and it makes me love him that much more. I was in the shower, making the necessary preparations to show him just how proud I am of the man he’s become when Megan pulled into the driveway and forced me into her vehicle. She barely even gave me enough time to dress and dry my hair.
“You know, Jake will be home any minute, and I really don’t want to miss him. Can you just take me back to his place, and we can take care of whatever this is later,” I say, giving her a pleading look when we come to a brief stop at a traffic light.
“No can do. I have strict instructions.”
I frown at her cryptic remark and try not to show my impatience. I don’t have time for this. I need to show Jake he can rely on me. That he can count on me to be there for him, and being MIA on what may be the most important moment of his professional career really isn’t a good way to drive that point home.
By the time we pull into the empty parking lot of our old elementary school, my nerves are shot. I’m just about to ask what in the world we’re doing here when the schoolyard comes into view. My gasp of surprise startles Megan, whose entire face breaks intoa wide grin. I can only stare in stunned silence while I take in the sight in front of me.
Jake is standing under our tree.Thetree. In the exact spot we first saw each other, looking absolutely delicious in dark jeans, a grey button-up shirt and matching blazer. He looks both effortlessly elegant and breathtakingly beautiful as he clutches a single, stunning carnation—my favorite flower since he gave me one when I was only eleven years old—and exudes a level of nervousness that has my heart racing. Our eyes connect through the windshield, and I gulp down a loud swallow as he waits for me to get out of the idling car.
“I’ll give you guys some privacy,” Megan says, eyes glistening with emotion. “Jake will give you a ride once you’re done here.”
“Okaaaay,” I say, purposely drawing out the word to give myself another moment to pull myself together. My hands shake when I reach for the door handle, and I wait for Megan to pull out of the lot before I make my way toward Jake, who looks like he’s about two seconds away from throwing up.
What in the world is going on here?
When I come to a halt in front of him, I force a weak smile to my lips and take his outstretched hand.
“Hey, baby,” he says in a low voice, offering me a wobbly smile of his own.
“Hey, yourself.”
“You’re probably wondering what the hell is going on, so I won’t leave you guessing. I had Megan bring you here for two reasons.” I fight the urge to bite my nails as I wait for him to elaborate. “The first one is you deserve an apology for the way I acted yesterday.”
His eyes dart to the side and he swipes the back of his hand across his forehead before they’re back on mine.
“I said things I wish I could take back, and I need you to know that I didn’t mean any of it. When I walked into my office and saw that email, it pulled the rug out from under my feet and all my old insecurities came rushing back. I love you so damn much, and I just got you back.” His voice cracks, eyes shining with unshed tears.
“Hey,” I whisper softly, cupping his face and touching my forehead to his. Jake briefly screws his eyes shut and nuzzles his cheek into my palm, like he’s been deprived of my touch for decades instead of a few measly hours.
“It’s okay. I’m not mad, and I’m not holding anything you said against you. I know how it looked, and I probably would’ve reacted the same way had the roles been reversed. But I need you to understand that I’m not going anywhere. I’d never put either of us through that again. I’ve lived without the other half of my soul for seven years. Don’t you know by now that I need you just as much as you need me?”
Jake links his fingers with mine and gently lowers our joined hands to our side before he steps back to study my earnest expression.
“You have no idea how much I need you,” he rasps. “I’d convinced myself I was doing okay without you, but I was barely hanging on. It’s like your return brought color back to my life and now that everything is vibrant again, I can’t bear the thought of going back to black and white. Which brings me to the other reason we’re here.” I’m barely breathing when he slowly drops to one knee.
My hand shoots to my mouth, vision blurring as I stare down at the man at my feet. Handing me the bright yellow flower for safekeeping, he reaches into the pocket of his blazer and produces a simple black velvet box. I stifle a gasp when he flips the lid open and presents me with the most stunning diamond ring I have ever laid eyes on.
“Teresa Elizabeth Davidson,” he starts, voice laced with emotion. He looks up at me with a tender expression that brings instant tears to my eyes, and I hold my breath while I wait for him to speak. “It was in this very spot I first laid eyes on you, and the second I did, my soul recognized you as mine. You were the single most beautiful girl I’d ever seen. I remember the way all the air left my body when you shyly offered me that first smile. The feelingof rightness settling in my chest when I touched my shoulder to yours. So innocent, yet so fucking memorable. I’ve made many mistakes, and I’ve carried my fair share of regrets. But it’s time for us to let go of the past and focus on the future.” He plucks the ring from the box and looks at me with such heartfelt devotion that I can’t hold back the choked sound rising from my aching throat. “Baby, I can’t imagine going back to a life that doesn’t include you. You’re my best friend, my confidant, and my soulmate. I loved you when I was nothing more than a child, I love you now, and I’ll keep on loving you until the day I die. I know this seems fast but, in my heart, I’ve always known. So, will you please put me out of my misery and do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
I don’t even have to think about my answer. Joining him on the ground, I give him a resounding yes and pepper his face with kisses. His carefree laughter heals something inside me as we both cry tears of joy in this moment of pure, unadulterated happiness.
“Boy, you weren’t kidding when you said you’d make it up to me, were you?”
He chokes out a laugh and meets my red-rimmed eyes. “I’m sorry I doubted you, baby. Next time I act like an insecure asshole, please know it’s only because I’m so damn scared to lose you. I know it doesn’t excuse how I acted, but I hope you can forgive me, anyway.”
“Jake Eric Nelson. Don’t you dare call my future husband names. I’ll have you know I’m very protective of him. He’s mine, and I take care of what’s mine. Always and forever. Are we clear?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replies, pressing his lips to mine in the softest, barely-there tease of a kiss.
When we break apart and stare into each other’s eyes, I palm his cheek and hold him steady, willing him to not only hear my next words but truly let them sink in when I say, “I know you better than I know myself, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned from our years apart, it’s no amount of time or distance can ever break that soul-deep connection we share. I’m not complete without you, and I’ll gladly put up with your insecurities every once in a while if it means I’ll get to have the future I’ve always dreamed of. Consider me an extension of you from here on out. Like a barnacle on your ass, you’d need a damn crowbar to pry me off. You’re stuck with me now, fiancé,” I finish, testing out the word and loving how it rolls off my tongue, as well as the possessive glint it brings to his eye.
“Mmmhh, I like the sound of that,” he growls before he claims my lips once more, delivering a kiss that leaves me gasping for air. “I’d love nothing more than to take you home and make love to you until neither one of us can move. But I told your folks we’dcome over right away to toast our engagement and pack up your things since you’re moving in with me.”
